Lock



c; B.- LOWE LOCK Filed Oct. 31, 1929 Jan. 7, 1936.

INVENTOR ATTORNEY Patented Jan. 7, 1936 LOCK Charles B. Lowe, Detroit, Mich assignor to The Yale & Towne Manufacturing Company, Stamford, Conn.

. Application October 31, 1929, Serial No. 403,718

'19 Claims.

This invention relates to cylinder locks, and more especially to means for retaining key plugs in said locks. One object of this invention is to devise a cylinder plug of the'sliding tumbler type,

which is adapted to be inserted into a cylinder, and which may be withdrawn from said cylinder in an easy and convenient manner.

It is desirable in applying automobile locks to the automobiles on the assembly line, to insert the plug as a separate unit into the locking device which has previously been placed on the automobile. Since mistakes will. happen on the swiftly moving assembly line, it is especially desirable to be able to remove the plug from the locking device so as to substitute for the same another plug, without going to any serious in:- convenience. As my invention, I have contributed a most desirable arrangement wherein the plug may be easily inserted and may be removed .20 without the use-of any tools or other devices, it

being necessary to use only the particular key required for the plug. a Essentially, my invention, comprises a relationship between the plug and its retainer and the remainder of the look, so that a particularcon- 'trolledoperation of the plug at or to a designated position will render the retainer inefiective. More in detail, my invention comprises a plug having retaining means for holding the plug in a cylinder so long as the plug does not move beyond a predeterminedpoint, and limit meansfor limiting the rotation of a plug relatively to the cylinder; the limit means being so arranged that by proper manipulation they will permit the plug to be moved beyond said predetermined point to a point where the retaining means are noilonger operative, and the plug may be withdrawn.

Referring more particularly to the drawing .wherein one embodiment of my invention is shown, Fig. 1 is a partial section through a handle of an automobile showing my plug in position. Fig. 2 is a section along the line 22 showing the .locking bolt in looking position. Fig. 3 is a view similar to Fig. 2 showing, the bolt in retracted vi5 position. Figs. 4, 5, and 6 are sections along the line 4-4 of Fig. 1 showing the plug andits retaining member in three distinct functional positions. .Figs. 7, 8, and 9 show a modification of a slip connection between the plug and cam.

Referring now more particularly to the draw- ;ing, reference numeral l0 designates a handle of the usual type mounted in an escutcheon I I and having a locking bolt l2, which is adapted to cooperate with a part of the escutcheon in the usual i455 and, well-known manner. While. my invention will be described with reference to a handle, the handle forms no part of this invention, since the particular plug may be used in many other relationships. As a locking unit for the locking handle, I employ a usual sliding tumbler plug l3 5 having a series of sliding tumblers l4 adapted to engage in the usual recess l5 provided for the same. It should be understood that the body of the locking handle takes the place of the usual cylinder in which the plug operates.

To maintain the plug within the handle or cylinder, I arrange to mount on the plug a retaining spring wire I! which is carried in a bore I8 of the plug, and has its retaining portion extending from a grooved portion of the plug. This retaining wire I1 is normally pressed in an outward direction, as shown in Fig. 4 and will cooperate, in the usual rotation of the plug from the position of Fig. 4 to the position of Fig. 5 in the direction of the arrow, with the groove l9 of the cylinder, or in this case, the locking handle. It is quite easily understood thatwhile this wire rests in the groove l9, it will maintain the plug within the cylinder.

The locking bolt I2 is operated by a cam20, by means of the operating pin 2|. This cam 20 is in turn operated by an adaptor 22, which in turn is operated by the pin 23 and lug 24 of the cam portion of plug I3. The connection between the adaptor 22 and the cam portion of plug [3 by means of members 23 and 24, is such that there is no relative movement between the same.

The connection between the. cam 20 and the adaptor 22 is rather unusual. The adaptor 22 is made of die-cast metal while the part 20 may be of any type of metal stamping or casting; In casting the adaptor 22, the part 25 of cam 20 is first inserted into the die, having previously been covered with graphite, so that when the adaptor is cast, there will be a strong connection between it and the cam. This connection will not be so firm, however, that it will not yield to a forceful turning effort, between the cam 20 and the adaptor 22. The relative movement which is caused by forceful rotation of the adaptor is utilized for the removal or the plug through means which will be presently described.

In Figs. 7, 8, and 9 I show a modification of means for obtaining this forceful relative movement. A split sleeve 26 is adapted to slip over a portion 21 of the adaptor 22. A cam 20 having a pin 2| is carried by the sleeve 26 so as to form a frictional connection between the adaptor and the cam. While two forms of slip connections have been shown, it should be understood that 455 many other types would be suitable for the purposes of this invention.

The normal turning movement of the plug I3 will be from the position of Fig. 4, in a counter- 5 clockwise direction, to the position of Fig. 5, and is determined by the movement of the cam pin 2! from the position of Fig. 2 to the position of Fig. 3 in retracting the bolt. However, due to the slip connection between the cam 20 and the adaptor 0 22, as was described above, it is possible to turn the plug and its adaptor relatively tocam 20 after that cam has reached the limit of its movement. This additional movement of the plug is from the position of Fig. 5. to the position of Fig.

6. It should be noticed that the groove l9 has a camming portion 21, which is adapted to cam the retaining wire I! entirely within the plug while that plug is being rotated from the position of Fig. 5 to the position of Fig. 6. It is then possible to remove the plug by an outward pulling movement. 5

My invention is of broad scope and many modifications of the same within the scope of the appended claims will be obvious to one skilled in the art.

I claim:

1. In a look, a cylinder, a key plug, retaining means for said plug normally cooperable with the cylinder to maintain the plug within said cylinder, a part of said cylinder being adapted to actuate said retaining means and to render said retaining means inoperative when said plug is operated to a designated position.

W 2. In a look, a cylinder, a key plug, retaining means carried by said plug and normally cooperable with the cylinder to maintain the plug within said cylinder, a part' of said cylinder being adapted to actuate and render said retaining means inoperative when said plug is key operated 40 to a designated position.

3. In a look, a cylinder, a key plug, means for limiting the normal extent of movement of said plug, said plug being movable forcefully beyond said normal-extent, retaining means for said plug normally operable to maintain the plug within said cylinder, said retaining means being rendered ineffective by movement of said plug beyond its normal extent.

. l. In a lock, a cylinder, a key plug, means for limiting the normal extent of rotation of said plug, said plug being rotatable beyond said normal extent by abnormal operation, retaining means for said plug normally operative to maintain the plug within said cylinder, a part of said cylinder being adapted to render said retaining means ineffective when said plug is abnormally operated beyond said limited extent.

5. In a look, a cylinder, akey plug, means for limiting the normal extent of rotation of saidplug, said plug being rotatable beyond said normal extent by abnormal operation, retaining means carried by said plug and normally cooperable with the cylinder to maintain the plug within said cylinder, a part of said cylinder being shaped to render said retaining means ineffective when said plug is abnormally operated beyond said limitedextent.

'6. In a lock, a cylinder, a key plug, a cam operable by said plug, said cam being rotatable a limited extent by the plug, a slip connectionbetween said plug and cam to permit rotation of said plug relatively to said cam, retaining means normally operable to maintain the plug within said cylinder, said retaining means being rendered ineifective by rotation. of said plug beyond the limited extent of movement of the cam.

7. In a look, a cylinder, a key plug, a cam, means of connection between said plug and cam whereby said cam is operable by said plug, said 5 cam having a limited extent of movement, said means of connection being adapted to permit forceful rotation of said plug after said cam has reached the normal limit of its movement, retaining means operative to maintain the plug 10 Within said cylinder, said retaining means being rendered inefiective by rotation of said plug beyond the normal limited movement permitted by the cam connection.

8. In a look, a cylinder, 2. key plug, a cam oper- 15 able by said plug, said cam being rotatable a limited extent by the plug, and a slip connection between said plug and cam to permit abnormal rotation of said plug relatively to said cam.

9. In a look, a cylinder, a key plug, a cam, 20 means of connection between said plug and cam whereby said cam is operable by said plug, said cam having a limited extent of movement, said means of connection being adapted to permit forceful'rotation of said plug'aiter said cam has 25 reached the normal limit of its movement.

10. In a look, a cylinder, a key plug, retaining means for said plug normally operable to maintain the plug within said cylinder, camming means in said cylinder, said retaining means being rendered inefiective so as to permit removal of the plug when said plug is operated in a designated manner relatively to said camming means.

11. In a look, a cylinder, a key plug, retaining means for said plug normally cooperable with the cylinder to maintain the plug within said cylinder, camming means on said cylinder, said retaining means being rendered inoperable by said camming means so as to permit removal of the plug when said plug is operated to a designated position.

12. In a look, a cylinder, a key plug, retaining means carried by said plug and cooperable with a groove in the cylinder to maintain said plug within said cylinder, a portion of said cylinder {5 being adapted to render said retaining means inefiective so as to permit removal of the plug when said plug is key-operated to a designated position.

13. In a look, a cylinder, a key plug, means for limiting the normal rotation of said plug, 5 said plug being operable forcefully beyond said limiting means, retaining means carried by said plug and normally cooperable with a groove in the cylinder to maintain the plug within said cylinder, camming means in said groove, said 55 camming means being located beyond the ordi nary limit of rotation of said plug, said retaining means being rendered ineffective so as to permit removal of the plug when said plug is operated forcefully beyond its normal limit to a designated 0 position relatively to said camming means.

14. In a look, a cylinder, a key plug, a cam operable by said plug, said cam being rotatable a limited extent by the plug, a slip connection between said plug and cam topermit abnormal '65 rotation of said plug relatively to said cam, retaining means carried by said plug and normally cooperable with a groove of the cylinder to maintain the plug within said cylinder, said groove having camming means, said retaining means be- 7O ing rendered ineffective by rotation of said plug beyond the limitedextent of movement of the 'camand into a designated relationship to said camming means. 15. In a look, a cylinder, a key plug, a cam, 75

to be rendered ineffective by forceful rotation of said plug beyond the normal limited movement permitted by its connection with the cam.

16. In a, look, a cylinder, a key plug, retaining means for said plug constituting a spring wire carried by the same and operable in a groove in said cylinder to maintain the plug within said cylinder, said groove having a camming portion, said camming portion being adapted to render said retaining means ineffective when said plug is operated to a designated position.

17. In a lock, a cylinder, a key plug, a cam, means of connection between said plug and cam whereby said cam is operable by said plug, said cam having a limited extent of movement, said means of connection being adapted to permit forceful rotation of said plug after said cam has reached the normal limit of its movement, a retaining means carried by said plug and cooperable with a groove in thecylinder to maintain the plug within said cylinder, camming means 5 on said cylinder, said retaining means being rendered ineffective by said camming means by rotation of said plug beyond the normal limited movement permitted by the cam connection.

18. In a look, a cylinder, a cast key plug, a 10 cam operable by said plug, said cam having a portion about which said plug is tightly formed, said portion adapted to form a means of connection between said plug and cam whereby a forceful relative movement between the same is 15 possible.

19. In a look, a cylinder, a cam, a cast key plug, and means of connection between said plug and cam comprising a part of said cam about which said plug is tightly formed, so as to form 20 a union between said plug and cam, said union being adapted to permit forceful relative movement between said plug and cam.

CHARLES B. LOWE. 5 r 

